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architecture and design magazineTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:00:26 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1The Superstitious Fund by Shing Tat Chunghttp://www.dezeen.com/2012/06/25/the-superstitious-fund-by-shing-tat-chung/
http://www.dezeen.com/2012/06/25/the-superstitious-fund-by-shing-tat-chung/#commentsMon, 25 Jun 2012 12:45:30 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=220885Royal College of Art graduate Shing Tat Chung has created a superstitious robot that trades on the stock market according to the lucky numbers it generates. The Superstitious Fund project is a live experiment that will run for one year. Starting with £4828.88 invested by 144 people in over 50 cities around the world, the […]

Many superstitions and irrationalities are often hidden or ignored in our society. The US economy, for instance, can lose up to $2.4 billion a year due fears of Friday 13th. Whilst in times of uncertainty, we become even more superstitious and irrational. So in a time of both economic and financial crisis, we find ourselves occupying a world which is becoming more and more uncanny.

The Superstitious Fund Project is a live experiment in which an algorithm trades based on superstitious beliefs. The autonomous algorithm makes decisions based on lunar cycles and numerology, and also develops its own form of superstitious logic, creating lucky and unlucky values that influence its behaviour. 144 people from around the world has invested a total of £4828.88 in the fund, which will return the resulting balance back to its investors in a year's time. Now trading, the stock market board shows the current performance of the superstitious fund in real time.

The accompanying book documents the creation of the fund, which was developed with the assistance of finance professionals, fortune tellers, programmers and lawyers.